Help » FAQ » Publication
How are photos selected for publication?
That's a great question. There are many things to be published in, and many ways photos are picked for publication. The guiding principle is simple: editors may have a trained eye to pick a great photo, but there's no reason regular folks can't spot a superb photo as well. To marry the trained eyes of our panel of editors with the everyday vision of the people of the Chicago area, we ask for a simple vote: "dig it" or "nix it." Top-voted photos are put in front of our editors who then pick the best of the best for publication. In addition to the editors' picks, we also publish top-rated photos, which puts all the power in the hands of the people. See more about the algorithm that shapes how photos are rated.
Where will photos be published?
The great thing about Capture My Chicago is users are continually capturing great photos of the Chicago area. That means we always have a pool of great photos to draw from for publication. Periodically we'll publish a group of great photos in a Showcase. Folks are also featured in challenges. Photos are also eligible (if the photographer chooses to make them eligible) to be published in real-world products like a book, calendar, magazine insert and so on. Let us know if you have an idea for a product.
How will I know if I've been published?
We notify published photographers via email. Your published photo will also get a fancy badge to indicate it's been published. Fun!
What's the counter in the top right corner for?
Capture My Chicago is all about finding the best photos of the area. When the counter reaches zero, submissions and votes for a particular goal (a product, challenge, etc.) are cut off and we add up all the votes to figure out which photos have the highest score. Top-scoring photos and editors' picks will be published!
